Telford and Wrekin

Telford and Wrekin's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 170,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Telford and Wrekin increased by 5.3%, from about 158,000 to 167,000.

The addition of just over 8,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Telford and Wrekin was home to, on average, 4.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Telford and Wrekin

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Telford and Wrekin increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This urban area had a slightly lower average age than the West Midlands and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 4,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 4,000.

About 11% of people in Telford and Wrekin are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Telford and Wrekin by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Telford and Wrekin

Telford and Wrekin saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.6%) in Telford and Wrekin reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.6% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.3% to 6.2%.

Across the region, only Cannock Chase (from 3.9% to 5.0%) and Wyre Forest (from 3.1% to 4.1%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability, as the regional average grew from 3.5% to 4.2%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

Telford and Wrekin saw the West Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (25%) households in Telford and Wrekin had only one person, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 9.6% to 12%.

Across the region, only Birmingham (from 33% to 32%) and Sandwell (from 30% to 30%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Telford and Wrekin residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Telford and Wrekin remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Telford and Wrekin by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Telford and Wrekin

The number of people in Telford and Wrekin that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 24,000 in 2001 to just under 46,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Telford and Wrekin that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 120,000 in 2001 to just over 100,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 12,000 to about 11,000 (from 7.3% to 6.6%).

About 3,000 people (1.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 2,000 in 2001 (1.8%).

The population without a religion in Telford and Wrekin increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Telford and Wrekin by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Telford and Wrekin at a faster rate than in Wrexham (one of the most statistically similar areas to Telford and Wrekin based on ONS area classifications).

In Telford and Wrekin, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.0% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Wrexham increased from 6.9% to 12%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.3% to 14%.

The rate of social housing in Telford and Wrekin fell from 22% to 20%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68% to 64%.

Private renting in Telford and Wrekin increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Telford and Wrekin, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Telford and Wrekin residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.3% to 6.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Telford and Wrekin residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Telford and Wrekin decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Telford and Wrekin, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Telford and Wrekin working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 9.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Telford and Wrekin decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Telford and Wrekin, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Telford and Wrekin

The number of people in Telford and Wrekin from the White ethnic groups remained close to about 150,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 95% to 93%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Telford and Wrekin from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 5,100 in 2001 to about 7,000 in 2011 (from 3.2% to 4.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,700 to about 3,000 (from 1.1% to 1.8%).

About 1,800 people (0.6%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 930 in 2001 (1.1%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Telford and Wrekin decreased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Telford and Wrekin by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Telford and Wrekin residents that were unemployed increased from 3.3% to 4.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (55%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Telford and Wrekin residents that were self-employed increased from 6.0% to 7.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 3.8% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Telford and Wrekin increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Telford and Wrekin, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Telford and Wrekin

The percentage of adults in Telford and Wrekin that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Telford and Wrekin increased from 28% to 33%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 10% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Telford and Wrekin without children increased from 56% to 57% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 34% in 2001. The percentage of households in Telford and Wrekin with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10%.

The proportion of households without children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (which remained close to 59%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links